Versailles fascinates well beyond its character of historical monument. Often referred to as the place of the invention of the classic city, one can observe how the park has interiorized the structures of large territory in order to generate the shapes of the city. This link between geography, agrarian structures and form of the city through the construction of a park is an extraordinary reference for the actors of the contemporary city.

At the scale of the Parisian metropolis, this site faces profound changes: the park is now at the articulation of urban areas under transformation, for instance in relation with the Paris-Saclay cluster.

In contact with the park, a plot focuses and miniaturizes all issues related to contemporary urban transformations. Pion is an abandoned barrack. On this plot of about 50 acres (20 hectares), the city of Versailles has begun an urban study in order to create a new neighborhood.

THE MAIN LANDSCAPE ENTITIES

The large terrace
The terrace takes the form of a vast lawn planted with an orchard. A path six meters in width brings together the various users of the site (walkers, cyclists, those on horseback). Its panoramic setting works in highlighting elements of the larger landscape: the alleyways of the Parc de Versailles, the wooded hills of the Plaine de Versailles, the central open space of the site.
The terrace is planted with orchards all along its length in an eight meter configuration, which creates a thick landscape boundary for the neighborhood. It also serves as a major pathway, similar in scale to that found in the classical park. The terrace is connected with the spaces it overlooks by a series of ramps, inspired by those found in the Potager du Roi (the Vegetable Garden of the King).  

The forested cordon
Taking its inspiration from the large wooded continuities found in the nearby Plaine de Versailles hills, the forested cordon is a multifaceted landscape entity whose interest is above all functional. Planted in a width of around thirty meters on average, the cordon serves as a barrier largely effective in minimizing the noise pollution and visual disturbances associated with the nearby rail tracks. It also houses a number of supplementary parking areas in addition to those found in the neighborhood (for visitors, events, etc.), which are located along the large planted boulevards.

The central plain
The central Plain is an open space of around three hectares in triangular form. It is located in the north of the neighborhood. Within this space, only a few linear orchards have been planted, creating the impression of a series of successive vast rooms. As a result, this part of the site remains for the most part empty and free: and can potentially be used for any number of programs in the future (as a public park, equestrian center, and so on).

The garden-city
The Garden-city is exemplary from the point of view of landscape. The plantings are extremely present to the eye and in perfect harmony with those of the site. The landscape of the Garden-city is thus a combination of elements found in other areas of the project: in its private gardens, there are large trees planted in the same manner as found in the wooded cordon; while along its roads and squares, there are small orchards, similar to those found on the terrace.

Integrating boundaries into their landscape
In the conceptual phase of projects, the qualities of any private or closed space are considered in active relationship with the qualities of the public space that surrounds them.
For this reason, the fencing and boundaries of such spaces must be given particular attention.
Three systems are conceivable:
- As a general rule, especially at the wider boundaries of a site, the enclosures should be inserted as much as possible within the tree layer so as to render them the least visible as possible. In all cases, such enclosures should always be simple in design and as discreet to the eye as possible.
- Another preferred system for separating public and private space as well as for separating different small gardens among themselves, is the implementation of tree hedges, usually hornbeam or beech.
- Lastly, in certain very specific cases, the boundaries of separate areas can take the form of ditches, an approach which contains the advantage of not interrupting the perception of open space.